• The Global Burden of Diseases study from 1990-2019 systematically analyzed the communicable disease burden among children and adolescents aged 0-24 years. 

• The salient results of this study were: 

1. Reduction in overall burden (DALY) of communicable diseases except HIV.

2. The incidence of rare diseases such as the RHD and the NTD has increased.  

3. In 2019, among individuals aged 0-24 years, 3 million deaths and 30 million Years of Healthy life lost to Disability (YLD) were attributable to communicable diseases. 

4. This represents 57.3% of the total communicable disease burden across all ages. 

5. Among the children and adolescents, 44.1% of the deaths and 16.6% of the total disability were attributable to communicable diseases. 

6. This burden disproportionately affected the countries with low sociodemographic development. 

7. Their incidence has declined drastically among children <5 years of age, especially in countries with low sociodemographic development. 

8. Among children and adolescents, 60% of the burden was attributable to 3 groups- enteric infections, LRTI, and malaria. 

9. However, URTI and infectious skin conditions were more prevalent among the countries with high sociodemographic development. 

10. Among older adolescents aged 20-24, HIV and TB were the leading causes.  

• The study findings emphasize the need for continued capacity building of the National programs related to communicable diseases, with a focus on adolescents and older children.

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